Predator UAV crashes at Balad Air Base

[unhappycamper]

Predator UAV crashes at Balad Air Base
Staff report
Posted : Friday Apr 4, 2008 16:01:58 EDT

A remote-controlled MQ-1 Predator crashed at 12:40 p.m. Friday after touching down and rolling off the runway at Balad Air Base in Iraq, the Air Force reported.

The accident marked the fifth crash of a Predator in the past 12 months. New planes cost about $3.5 million each.

The small airplanes are notoriously hard to handle as they land. Since the aircrew can’t hear the engine or feel the Predator being jostled by winds, the pilot and sensor operator depend on gauges and a television screen to know how the plane is handling.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/04/airforce_predator_crash_balad_040408w/



uhc comment: I wonder if this has anything to do with the pilot situation --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=12995

[MADem]

1. It might--especially if they're firing anyone who crashes one of those things.

I honestly don't know if they're taking the "Unforgiven" attitude about that, or what.

Funny, if they'd fired McCain after his first crash, he never would have been dodging fire on the Forest Fire Forrestal, and he wouldn't have ended up in the Hilton.